Card-retainer for card-cases.



Nn. 685,333. Patented oet. 29, 190|.

H. J. HUNTER. GARD RETAINER FOR CARD CASES.

(Application filed Feb. 14, 1901.) (No Model.)-

Inl/*antoinnonms sirens mima-mma. wAsmuoroN/u cA UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HARRY J. HUNTER, OF IRVINGTON, NEW JERSEY.

CARD-RETAINER FOR' CARD-CASES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 685,333, dated October 29, 1901.

l Application iiled February 14, 190,1. Serial No. 47,295. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HARRY J. HUNTER, a

i citizen of the United States, and a resident of Figure l is a plan view of a card-case hav-A ing my improved card-retainer applied there# to. Fig. 2 is a transverse section on the line da of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a viewin perspective of the retainer detached from, the card-case. Fig. 4 is a central longitudinal section of the folded card-case with my improved retainer applied thereto.

Similar reference numerals denote like parts throughout the several views of the drawings.

This invention relates to improvements in appliances for use in connection with cases or analogous devices for containing visiting or other cards, the same being employed for the purpose of removably holding the cards in -a determined position, and may therefore be properly designated card-retainers for cardcases-.

The object of this invention is to provide a card-retainer of the character above indicated which shall be simple, inexpensive,and novel as regards construction, efficient and durable in operation, attractive in appear ance, and which shall possess certain well-defined advantages over prior analogous structures.

The invention consists in the employment of certain parts novel asto form, in the novel disposition and arrangement of the various parts, in certain combinations of the latter, and in certain details of construction, all of which will be specifically referred to hereinafter and set forth in the appended claims.

My improved card-retainer, as illustrated in the accompanying drawings, comprises, in a general sense, a part capable of serving as a seat for the retained cards along one edge of said cards and a part located diametrically opposite to the said seat and capable of exerting a yielding pressure upon the cards at the opposite edge thereof. l

Having reference to the accompanying drawings, 2 denotes the seating-flange of my improved retainer, having a suitable inner surface to permit the side edge of a card or analogous object to uniformly rest or seat thereon, and 2'l is a pressure-flan ge with which my improved retainer is provided. The flanges 2 2 are here shown as connected by means of the back member 3, which is ordinarily arranged at a true angle to the respective flanges 2 2 and formed integral therewith. By thus arranging the respective parts 2 2 3 the side edge of a card or the like will not only uniformly seat along the Iiange 2, but the end edge thereof will also uniformly seat along the back member 3, so that when pressureis duly applied atV the distant edge of such card its corner adjacent to the members or parts 2 3 will fit snugly into the angle between such parts.

When the parts 2 2' 3 are formed integralthey are produced from a single strip of lna, terial suitable in quality or character to insure a degree of elasticity or resiliency to the flange 2', the free end of which is somewhat inwardly curved, as aia-3', and accordingly in practice engages under slight pressure the adjacent edge of the card or cards lying between the anges 2 2.

The iiange 2 is provided at its free end with an inwardly-projecting catch 4, which is in tended to normally overlap the adjacont edge of the card or cards heldbetween the flanges 2 2 in such a manner that the opposite edge thereof shall iirst be elevated in removing the card from or inserting the same between said iianges.

5 is a base-plate, of metal or other suitable material, and is secured to or formed integral with the back member 3 and projects away therefrom between the anges 2 2'. Ordinarily the flange 2 will -be soldered or otherwise fastened along its lower edge to the base-plate 5, to the end that said flange and the back 3 may be held rigidly in their relative positions. The `fiange 2' is not secured to the base-plate 5, but is left free to exert a yielding pressure in the direction of the iange 2.

The retainer thus far described is intended to be used in connection with a case for cards and the like, such case being ordinarily of pocket7 dimensions and form.

It is here shown as comprising a main portion G, intermediate portions 6 (5", and end flaps 7 7, the latter designed to overlap one the other and be fastened together, as by means of the fastener 7, when the several parts of said case are folded to the positions indicated in Fig. 4. The portion (i is provided with a transverse strip 8, which may or may not be coextensive with the portion 6, the same serving merely as a stay, between which and the body 6 the base-plate 5 of the retainer proper is inserted, as clearly shown in Figs. 2 and 4 of the drawings. If the strip 8 be coextensive with the portion 6, it forms a pocket, into which the base-plate 5 of the retainer is inserted, as will be readily understood. This construction permits the retainer proper to be readily applied to and detached from the card-case.

In putting the device as a whole into practical service the user unfolds the locked sections or flaps of the case to the position shown in Fig. 1. Then the cards are inserted, a number at a time ordinarily, by introducing one edge thereof between the catch 4 and the base-plate 5 or strip S, traversing the outer face of said base-plate, whereupon the opposite edge of the card or cards is carried toward the base-plate 5 and iiange 2 is urged outwardly somewhat, whereupon the cards are fully lodged between the anges 2 2, and the latter is allowed to return to its normal position, under which conditions the free end of the flange 2 yieldinglyengages the cards thus located. The foregoing operation is reversed when it is desired to remove one or more of the cards.

It will be seen that my improved card-retainer is particularly well adapted for the purpose for which it is designed and, further, that the same may be modified to some extent without materialdeparture from the spirit and principle of my invention.

Having fully described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

l. A device of the class herein described comprising a base-plate; a back portion extendingalong and firmly engaging said baseplate at one end thereof; a rigid seatingflange projecting away from said back portion at one end thereof and provided with a catch, as 4; and means for exerting ayielding pressure in the direction of said seating-flange from the opposite side of said base-plate.

2. A device of the class herein described comprising a base-plate; a back portion extending along and firmly engaging said baseplate at one end thereof; a rigid seatingflange projecting away from said back portion at one end thereof and extending along the adjacent side edge of said base-plate; a pressure-flange projecting away from said back portion at the opposite end thereof and substantially parallel with said seating-flange, the said pressure-flange being adapted to exert a yielding pressure in the direction of said seating-ilange.

3. In combination with a card-case having a transverse loop or strip, a base-plate adapted to engage said strip; a seatiug-ange extending partially along one of the side edges of said base-plate and provided with a catch, as 4; and means for exerting a yielding pressure in the direction of said seating-flange from `the opposite side of said base-plate.

4. In combination with a card-case having a strip, as 8, or analogous member, a cardretainer comprising a base-plate for engaging said strip, a seating-flange at one side of said base-plate, and means at the opposite side of said base-plate for exerting a pressure in the direction of said seating-flange.

5. In combination with a card-case, a baseplate; a back portion extending along and firmly engaging one end of said base-plate; a rigid seating-flange projecting away from said back portion at one end thereof and extending partially along the adjacent side edge of the base-plate; a pressure-flange projecting away from said back portion at the opposite end thereof, substantially parallel with said seating-flange, the said pressure-flange beingV adapted to exert a yielding pressure inthe direction of 'said seating-flange; and means for attaching said base to said case.

IIARRY J. HUNTER. Witnesses:

W. H. RUBY, JOHN BERGESEN. 

